Unlock Every Radiance Layer Banandium Gem in Donkey Kong Bananza – Ultimate Guide to Snakes, Secrets & Challenges!

Jump into the Radiance Layer in Donkey Kong Bananza, your 12th zone filled with Banandium Gems and snake-themed challenges. This area offers a mix of puzzles, combat, and exploration, with plenty of hidden bananas waiting to be found across its five sublayers. Whether you’re mastering the new Snake Bananza power or revisiting older abilities, this guide will help you track down every Banandium Gem in this bright, snake-infested zone.

- Overview of Radiance Layer and its unique features

Detailed Banandium Gem locations by sublayer (1200–1204)
Tips for using Snake Bananza and other powers
Combat challenges and puzzle highlights

Welcome to the Radiance Layer

The Radiance Layer is a large zone where you’ll encounter snake people and unlock your last Ancient Bananza Power: Snake Bananza. Many puzzles here require high leaps using your coiled body, combined with your existing Bananza skills. The layer is divided into five sublayers, each with varying numbers of Banandium Gems. Some sublayers have only a few bananas, while others are packed with collectibles and challenges.

Sublayer 1200: Getting Started with Banandium Gems

In Sublayer 1200, you’ll find three Banandium Gems:

#1 Beneath the White-Sand Landing: Dig down next to the Shedlight Cave teleport spot. DK’s Hand Slap sonar helps locate this one easily.
#2 Alighted in the Radiance Layer: These three bananas greet you in the snow right after you drop into the Radiance Layer.
#3 Deep Down in Shedlight Cave: Destroy the concrete pillar past the hole leading to the next sublayer to let light in. Digging straight down in the light reveals this banana. Transform into Kong Bananza to break the concrete floor beneath the pillar.

Sublayer 1201: The Real Challenge Begins

This sublayer is packed with 18 Banandium Gems. Highlights include:

#5 Shifty Smash: A Thorny Situation: Complete the Shifty Smash challenge in a cave below the landing area.
#7 Revealed by the Light: Use DK’s Hand Slap sonar near the Glow Stone Vein tuning fork. Manipulate glowing veins and blue coils to open a hidden door.
#13 Sitting on a Snake’s Head: Use Snake Bananza’s charge jump to land on a giant snake’s head and grab the banana.
#20 The View Beyond Glowboa Grotto: After turning the sun back on, glide using Ostritch Bananza from the top of the Constrictor Corridor to find this banana.

For a complete list and detailed walkthroughs of all 18 bananas, keep exploring the Radiance Layer and don’t miss the special combat challenges scattered around.

Sublayer 1202: Turning the Sun Back On

With 15 Banandium Gems to find here, Sublayer 1202 offers a mix of story-based bananas and tricky challenges:

#31 Unveiled in the Sculptors’ Studio: A story reward for arriving in this sublayer.
#35 Battle: Dive-Bombing Run: A combat challenge on a floating island requiring Snake Bananza and strategic use of liftoff ore. {jlee_250723_1001_DKB_1200_35_20250725_010119.webp}
#38 Soaking in the Essence of the Sun: Use Elephant Bananza to suck up lava in a small pool and reveal a hidden banana.
#42 Hidden in the Girders: Slap a special dirt platform in the Ancient Country challenge course to raise it and grab this banana.

Sublayer 1203: Snake Sands and Balloon Popping

This sublayer boasts 26 Banandium Gems and includes some unique tasks:

#47 Balloons under the Dunes: Pop five balloons hidden in trapantuloids across two levels to earn this banana. Use Elephant Bananza to clear thorns and Snake Bananza to jump onto enemies. {jlee_250723_1001_DKB_1200_47_20250725_010122.webp}
#53 Radiance Fragmentone Recovery: Escort fragments back along a dark path using glow stone chunks to light the way. Watch out for moving walls!
#60 Tip o’ The Stone Snake’s Tongue: Clear away purple void goop inside a snake sculpture’s mouth to access this banana.
#70 Pillaged from a Shade-Cloud Pillar: Use Snake Bananza’s charge jump and punch down a light door atop a tower to claim this banana.

Sublayer 1204: Ancient Ruins and Snake Bodies

The smallest of the sublayers, with five Banandium Gems, Sublayer 1204 still packs a punch:

#73 Hidden in the Moving Wall: Navigate the Strong, Shady Clouds Ancient Ruins by sticking to shadows and breaking thorn walls. Use ice balls from buzzoids to clear your path. {jlee_250723_1001_DKB_1200_73_20250725_010128.webp}
#76 Swallowed by the Snake: Smash open the body of a crystal snake near the getaway to find this banana.

Extra Tips and Resources

If you’re monkeying around in Donkey Kong Bananza, check out our guides for other layers like Resort Layer, Tempest Layer, and Landfill Layer. We also have tips on unlocking music discs and explainers on Ancient Bananza Powers and the skill tree to help you get the most out of your adventure.